CSOs ask Mutharika to woke up from slumber or lose ‘legitimacy to govern’ Malawi

Local rights campaigners are strongly calling upon Malawi President Peter Mutharika to “wake up from his slumber and resolve the crisis facing the country once and for all lest he loses “the legitimacy to govern”.

Mtambo: Calls for President’s pragmatic action

In a strongly-worded press statement Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) say observed with alarm a series of developments that may potentially thwart the progress of the country’s democracy as well as enjoyment of human rights by Malawian citizens.

The two organizations say the current situation is as if Malawi has no President.

“CHRR and Cedep are depressed at the rising number of industrial strikes in the country. Right now, ACB (Anti Corruption Bureau), Parliament, Malawi College of Medicine, Chancellor College, Mzuzu University among others have closed shop pending improved conditions from government. The recent sealing of ACB offices by APM’s regime is another disaster –the worst expected of his administration,” reads the statement in part.

The rights groups say the sealing of the Anti-Corruption Bureau also confirms the executive’s continued interference into the independence of the ACB a scenario that does not give any hope in as far as the national crusade to curb corruption is concerned.

“This is regrettable. Already there are fears that this ‘sealing exercise’, as APM’s sole tactic to resolving the strikes, shall be extended to the judiciary and any potential grouping who may resolve to strikes as a way of bringing their grievances to the attention of the regime.

“You don’t just cripple constitutional bodies like that and claim that your government is committed to fighting graft, corruption and also ensure that there is access to justice for all. This is pure hypocrisy, and in fact ‘hypocrisy of the highest order’, that is, if we were to borrow Timothy Mtambo’s branding of Mutharika four weeks ago [in an interview with Nyasa Times].”

The statement says what is even more saddening is that the President Mutharika is yet to step up to address the aggrieved parties on the feud.

“By failing to rise above the challenge and bring the striking staff to an understandable compromise, the President is painting a picture that he is failing to be a father-figure in the whole saga. This may also signal a ‘constructive admission’ by the President that he has failed to ‘governor rule’ in the midst of the crisis a scenario that does not speak well about his leadership style” says the statement.

The organizations have called upon the President to prioritize ending the strikes as a matter of urgency saying the real victims of these strikes are the innocent citizens whose rights are being violated.

The two organizations are also reminding Malawian that the 13th January 2015 national demonstrations will also include all other current challenges both on the political, economic, governance and human rights including government’s continued failure to resolve strike concerns.

“These peaceful demonstrations will be staged in all the regions: Northern Region, Central Region, Eastern Region and Southern Region. We therefore call upon all the citizens to patronize these demonstrations as one of the ways in demanding concrete action and solutions on the prevailing concerns from the government,” reads the statement.

People from the north, please be objective. We will respect you more. The more noise you make the more ridicule you earn for yourselves and your children and their children. Do not mistake our quietness for stupidity.we can only ask you to be sensible and start respecting leadership of the day.

u ngos why didn’t you do demonstrations when during cashgate scandle in 2013 during pp and jb regime? didn’t you know that jb with her cashgate crue cld chase donnors? after all where have you been from 2012 to 2014? mwagwa nayo ple learn thr past experience u wl go alone pa mseupo akakuthireni usi.where do you think APM and SC will get money of which your jb stole. God is judging you even atakhala owina pa central with this cashgate scandle stlmore zikanavutabe cos mw depends on donnors. wait time will come when everything will be okay otherwise DPP… Read more »

NGOs, please feel ashamed. We know you are doing all this to beckon donors for your useless organisations. BEFORE telling us to join demonstrations, explain to us how you expect APM to solve this impact created over a long period of time while you were sleeping? Where were you when our economy was being plundered to work up with a jerk now and demand an immediate solution? Better let demos be against those who plundered our economy. That is what has brought the mess not APM. No wonder you are selling our country by promoting evil western cultures in the… Read more »

Atumbuka mwayambanso kubwebweta ndi kusokoneza. We had serious maladministration for two years with Jb, kuba ndege, cashgate ndi zina zotero but you chose to keep quite at times asking us to give Jezebel ample time, really? What has waken you up now that you bark at everything even when the president coughs? Wakuvutani ndi utumbuka basi, period! You are out of power and therefore want to cause problems and create a bad image of the government at all cost. Pangani ma demo anuwo palibe ati akuletseni. This is a free country, everybody is free to show their hate and stupidity.

Dadaboma No; 12,This is not the way we write things.Iam from the North myself,but I abhor such sayings.Don’t be REGIONALISTIC.Speak sense which can UNITE US AS A NATION.If u do not have something FACTUAL to say,then just SIT PHWII.
To Nyasa Times Staff: You always say your comment is awaiting moderation,WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MODERATION?YOU LET ABUSIVE,OBSCENE LANGUAGE NDI KUTUKWANA KONSE KUTI TIWERENGE,ZOONA.INDE KULI FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION,BUT IT IS BEYOND THE LIMIT WITH NYASATIMES.I SUGGEST THAT YOU MODERATE AND PICK ONLY THINGS WHICH CAN BE HELPFUL TO MALAWIANS NOT KUTUKWANA.BE SERIOUS.USE THE INTERNET FOR DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER BENEFICIAL THINGS.